New research was presented at ISET 2012, the annual International Symposium on Endovascular Therapy, on January 15-19 in Miami Beach. The features below highlight just some of the studies that emerged from the meeting. » A New Approach to Managing Unstoppable Nosebleeds » Cryoablation Deemed Effective in Ovarian Cancer » MS Patients Report Benefits With Angioplasty » Fibromuscular Dysplasia Frequently Undiagnosed Treating DVT in Pregnant Women The Particulars: Studies have shown that DVT is four to six times more common in pregnant women than in non-pregnant women. Research suggests that many pregnant women with DVT often forgo the most effective treatments—surgery or catheter-directed thrombolysis—because they fear that doing so may harm their unborn children. Data Breakdown: In a study of 11 pregnant women with DVT, two underwent surgery to remove the clot, and nine were treated with a bath of thrombolytic medications delivered directly into the clot. Removal of the clot was successful in all cases, and all but one pregnancy resulted in successful birth. One woman who miscarried 1 week after treatment suffered from antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, which the researchers believe likely caused the miscarriage. Take Home Pearl: Aggressive treatment with surgery or catheter-directed thrombolysis for pregnant women with DVT appears to be safe. Aggressive treatment was also shown to prevent serious complications and death. A New Approach to Managing Unstoppable Nosebleeds [back to top] The Particulars: Unstoppable nosebleeds can cause anemia and may lead to other more serious complications, including heart attack. When packing the nose with gauze, inflating a balloon to stop blood flow, or cauterizing the vessels in the nose fail, surgery or embolization are the...

The 37th annual Veith Symposium was held from November 17 to 21 in New York City. The features below highlight some of the news emerging from the meeting. Analyzing Different Stenting Approaches for Restenosis The Particulars: Few studies have compared the use of drug-eluting stents after angioplasty with balloon angioplasty and bare-metal stenting in the treatment of restenosis. The Zilver PTX (Cook Medical, Inc.) is the first drug-eluting stent approved for the superficial femoral artery and is currently under investigation in the United States for use in restenosis. Researchers conducted a study comparing the Zilver PTX drug-eluting stent after angioplasty with balloon angioplasty and bare-metal stenting. Data Breakdown: The study enrolled 479 patients at 56 institutions in the United States, Japan, and Germany, with 241 patients randomized to the Zilver PTX group and 238 to the bare-metal stenting group. Demographics and lesion characteristics were similar for the groups. Approximately, half of the bare-metal stenting group experienced acute failure and underwent secondary randomization in which 59 and 61 patients were assigned to provisional stenting with Zilver bare-metal stents and Zilver PTX, respectively. Study results met the 12-month primary endpoint goals showing non-inferiority and superior patency for the Zilver PTX as compared with a bare-metal stenting group. Endpoints included event-free survival, stent integrity by radiographic core laboratory analysis, and primary patency by Duplex ultrasound core laboratory analysis. There was also significant clinical improvement with the Zilver PTX. Take Home Pearl: The Zilver PTX drug-eluting peripheral stent appears to be safe and effective for the treatment of restenosis when compared with bare-metal stenting. Ultrasound-Accelerated CDT Beneficial in PE Treatment The Particulars: Pulmonary...